Posts Tagged ‘Lighthouses’

I’m not sure whether to call this a pause for dramatic effect, or just plain laziness. Ah, who’m I kidding? It’s not really all that dramatic, is it.

As I mentioned so long ago on Day 8, our destination was a spot called South Brook. I think I called it “Point F” on that map that I’m so over now. And, between you and I, calling it Point F makes a good deal more sense than calling it South anything if you consider how far north it is. Speaking of not making much sense, the campground was (and in all likelihood still is) called Kona Beach which I thought sounded sort of Hawaiian, but does this look like Hawaii to you? Hmmm?

We packed up early on the ninth day of our journey and headed back to the same spot we camped on our first night in Newfieland, Grand Codroy in Doyles. Once we’d dumped off the trailer, we set about exploring. It was our last day and we wanted to make the most of it.

Now, I don’t know if you know this about me or not, but I really like lighthouses. Not quite as much as I like puffins (or bacon) but I find them sort of extremely interesting. Our TRT (Trip Research Technician…okay, Bob) had located a couple more lighthouses for us to look for. I say “look for” because sometimes they hide them really well. I’m not sure how doing that is helpful to boats and such, but there you have it. Hidden secret lighthouses. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya about doze wacky Newfies, eh?

This first one, called the Cape Anguille Lighthouse, is also a fog horn station. The weird rusty thing is apparently the fog horn. Looks a bit dodgy to me. There’s a little sign advising against standing in front of it. I’d imagine there’d be a risk of an interesting hairdo at the very least.

The second lighthouse required a lot of driving and a fair bit of hiking, but it was entirely worth it. But hang on a second – I’m getting ahead of myself. I know, I know, how unlike me.

On the way back from the Cape Anguille Lighthouse, we saw some interesting things, not the least of which (okay, maybe it was the least…) was a herd of free-range sheep. Free-range Newfie-style means let’s-put-em-on-da-road-n-see-what-happens (the tourists will think it’s quaint). Um…no. The aforementioned tourists nearly had a mutton hood ornament.

Here are a few of the other cool things we saw:

That shot of what looks like a box of rocks with birdhouses on it is an example of how Newfies put up their telephone poles. Because the island is basically just a giant slab of rock, you can’t just dig a hole and cram the pole into it. So, the box of rocks is what you’d call the holder-upper (technical term).

I think I’m finally ready to tell you about the second lighthouse. I have no doubt the anticipation is getting out of hand by now. We decided that even though our time was short and the trip to the Rose Blanche Lighthouse would be a longish drive, we’d go for it anyway. But, uh-oh! What’s that up there on the road? Can it be?

The last part of the last day and now they bust out the moose? I just hate it when my conspiracy theories fall apart.

Okay, okay, I admit it: I was (ahem) wrong about the moose thing. Sue me. Now, let’s just get over it and get out to Rose Blanche Lighthouse, cuz this one, my friends, is a real show-stopper. I’ll just say two words and then let you enjoy: Solid. Granite.

I’m sure I’ve missed some bits and pieces, so I’ll sweep it all into a bucket and do an “oops” post in a few days. Then, if the weeds in my garden will just bloody well stop growing, I’ll tell you what we saw on the way home.